Road Test: 2021 Chevrolet Camaro RS 2.0L Turbo Convertible

Turbocharged Rear-Wheel Drive Top Down Fun

Chevrolet is serious about giving drivers the exact Camaro they want. Offering a coupe or convertible with four engine and two transmission options. If you want, nay need, some sportiness infused into your life, then look no further.

The fun part of 2021 Camaro shopping is that for about $25,000 you can get into a sporty car with modern styling and technology that harkens back to the 1960s. These are the engine choices that all come with either the standard six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.

• 2.0L Turbo Four
• 275 horsepower (hp)
• 295 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque
• $25,000 base price

• 3.6L V6
• 335 hp
• 284 lb.-ft. torque
• $27,095 base price

• 6.2L LT1 V8
• 455 hp
• 455 lb.-ft.
• $34,000 base price

• 6.2L LT4 Supercharged V8
• 650 hp
• 650 lb.-ft. torque
• $63,000 base price

What We Drove

Clean Fleet Report spent a fun week in the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro RS convertible with the 2.0L turbo four-cylinder and the six-speed manual transmission. The 275 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque were surprisingly more than adequate for impressive acceleration and performance. The manual was very much up to the task of powering the Camaro in every situation we encountered, with a 0-60 times consistently around 5.4 seconds. We estimate the 10-speed automatic, with paddle shifters, may be just a bit quicker.

The EPA rates the fuel economy at 19 mpg city/29 highway/22 combined for the 2021 Camaro RS convertible with the 2.0L turbo and the six-speed manual transmission. In 220 miles driving throughout Southern California, Clean Fleet Report averaged 24.1 mpg. However, with 160 of those miles freeway only and the cruise control set at 65 mph, we averaged 32.1 mpg. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience using the dash gauge computer. Your numbers may differ.

Joy of Driving

The more we drove the Camaro RS convertible, the more we came to appreciate it. The sport suspension with stability and traction control were up to whatever we encountered, which in SoCal means a whole lot of freeways that are either paved in quiet asphalt or loud, grooved concrete. There are three driver selectable drive modes of Tour, Sport and Mud/Snow. The last of those was never needed, as it was dry during our time in the Camaro RS, which meant the top was down much of the time. We spent our freeway miles in Tour to maximize fuel economy, and Sport at all other times to, well, be sporty.

The Camaro’s throwback 1960s design of front engine and rear wheel drive is what many driving purists seek out. The acceleration was smooth with very minor turbo lag, where the most fun was between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm while in third and fourth gear. The linear acceleration kept pulling through the next shift, but never getting up-to the 7,000 rpm redline.The engine note in Sport is a pleasant snarl or growl, but is unnoticeable when on the freeway. Downshifting through the gears produces a satisfying rumble.

The performance suspension on the Camaro RS is stiff, but not harsh. Nothing we encountered would be considered bone jarring or even unpleasant. To the contrary, even SoCal’s grooved concrete freeways were smoothed-out nicely. As noted, the more we drove the Camaro RS, the more we liked it.

The Goodyear Eagle 245/40 all-season asymmetrical tires, mounted on 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, gripped well. We can only imagine the handling bump if it was shod with summer tires. We never came close to the cornering limits during our week, with the grip predictable and reliable when diving hard into tight corners or taking high-speed sweepers. There was never a moment of surprise from tire slippage or sliding.

The Camaro RS came standard with four-piston front and rear, vented disc brakes that were power-assisted, part of the anti-lock brake system. Stopping is as important as accelerating, and the performance brake set-up provided consistent short stops that did not fade from heavy use.

Design Details: Exterior

The sixth generation Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in 2016, and has received cosmetic enhancements since then. The wide and low stance is enhanced by the long hood, LED head and daytime running lights, a narrow grille and the famous Bow Tie emblem. When closed, the convertible top stays true to the Camaro coupe’s look. When opened, which is about a 20-second, one-button electric operation, reveals a very well-designed convertible. The top can also be lowered remotely with the key fob.

Design-wise, there is no hint removing the roof was an afterthought as the laid-back windshield, suspended in air, has a great look. The small trunk lid has a crescent spoiler which sits above the quad LED tail lights and the dual, chrome exhaust tips in the lower fascia.

Clean Fleet Report’s Camaro had the RS and Redline Edition packages. The RS added LED tail lamps, black Bow Tie badging, and the spoiler. The Redline Edition added 20-inch black painted aluminum wheels with red stripe accents, and black emblems with red outlining.

For added zing, the 2021 Camaro now is available in two Wild Cherry design packages with black hash mark stripes or a center black stripe, ground effects and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels.

Design Details: Interior

The ventilated leather-trimmed seats were heated and cooled, with the driver getting eight-way (with memory) power adjustments and the passenger six-way power. The seats are supportive and do a good job holding the occupants in place when cornering hard. The digital gauges are complete, including a timer, and were complemented with a very helpful head-up display. The interior accent lighting was soothing and the illuminated logoed sill plates were a nice touch. The Redline Edition treatment on Clean Fleet Report’s Camaro RS included added touches of graphics, red seat belts, red knee pads on the center console, and carpeted and logoed floor mats.

The Bose sound system has six speakers and an eight-inch high-definition color touch screen that housed the AM/FM/radio with SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Controls for Bluetooth and the hands-free telephone are found on the heated, suede-wrapped steering wheel that has a squared-off bottom. If you like suede, the gear shift knob was so adorned, which provided a nice feel and good grip when powering through the gears.

Activating the very handy and helpful OnStar system is as simple as pushing a button. This connects you with a friendly General Motors representative to make your driving experience safer and more enjoyable. The most common requests are for directions, emergencies and general assistance. This is one area where GM is the industry leader, and after the introductory basic plan expires, it is well worth renewing for your passenger’s and your peace of mind. For faster Internet speeds there was a 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, which came with a limited period subscription.

The low roof and the high belt line meant the small windows don’t let in much light and created tight outward visibility. The Jet Black interior, while attractive, also added to the darkness. To aid in rear visibility, the rear view mirror can act as a high definition camera as well as a conventional mirror. The camera mode takes some getting used to, as the perspective is different, showing a wider view. I found it especially helpful when parking, a great feature for the limited rear visibility in the Camaro.

If you are thinking of sitting in the back seat, do so for a short time as there isn’t much there there. The trunk opening is small, but with the roof in place it accommodated four medium-size weekend bags. With the top down, a couple of those bags will need to go in the back seat.

Convenience and Safety

The Camaro RS comes equipped with safety features including eight airbags, cruise control, rear vision camera, electronic stability and traction control, rear park alert and assist, lane change, blind spot and forward collision alerts. The head-up display is a major safety element that keeps the driver’s eyes on the road.

Convenience items include power windows with one-touch up and down, keyless start and entry, passive entry system, power and heated side mirrors, dual zone automatic climate control, a theft deterrent system and a lockable glove box.

The 2021 Camaro convertible has not been tested by the US Government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the coupe version received a 5 Stars, its highest overall safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also has not tested the Camaro convertible, but it rated the Camaro coupe with an overall Good rating.

Pricing and Warranties

Clean Fleet Report’s 2021 Chevrolet Camaro RS convertible, with the 3LT package, had a base price of $38,495. With $5,305 in options and packages, the MSRP came to $43,800. All prices include the $995 destination charge.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro comes with these warranties:

• Bumper-to-Bumper – Three years/36,000 miles
• Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles
• Roadside Assistance – Five years/60,000 miles
• Corrosion – Six years/100,000 miles
• Maintenance – First visit or one year/12,000 miles

Observations: 2021 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible with the 2.0L Turbo and Six-Speed Manual

There are five Camaro models for 2021: LS, LT, LT1, SS, and ZL1. Clean Fleet Report’s first time getting to know this sports car was reviewing the 2019 Camaro SS, powered by a 6.2L V8 that pumped-out 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters. This time we slid behind the wheel of the 2021 Camaro RS convertible with the 2.0L turbo and six-speed manual. Before thinking we missed the extra horsepower and torque, think again.

Chevrolet has delivered some satisfying performance out of the turbo four-cylinder, with a broad torque range that provides serious pulling power, especially in third and fourth gears. Higher horsepower and torque may seem what you always want in a sports car, but that doesn’t mean all that power is usable at the wheels. What we noticed is the turbo four-cylinder gave us more usable power at the rear wheels when on tight corners and mountain twisties.

Since we were not so interested in going fast in a straight line, the smaller engine suited our needs just fine. However, we remember fondly the feeling of raw power when opening-up the big V8 on the 2019 Camaro SS. Which model you buy all depends on your driving style. Hint: you won’t go wrong either way. Convincing your local Chevrolet dealer sales representative to let you drive the different models hard may be a challenge, but it can’t hurt to ask.

Another consideration is where you will be driving the Camaro RS convertible. I live at the beach in Southern California where cruising Pacific Coast Highway is a time-tested ritual. Doing it in a convertible is even more enjoyable. Because PCH is a very long series of stop lights and traffic can get heavy, ordering your Camaro RS convertible with the 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters may make your drive more enjoyable, and will save your left leg from needing to be dragged when getting out of the car.

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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by Lex Adams.

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Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.